Fire and ESD

Bertram Volunteer Fire Department

The Bertram Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) serves and protects 169.5 square miles of Burnet County including the City of Bertram. It was founded in 1948 and until 2009 has been funded by combined funds from the City of Bertram, Burnet County, grants, corporate and individual donations. With a positive vote for Burnet County Emergency Service District #4 in 2008, BVFD will be now funded by the taxpayers in its district.

BVFD currently has 10 volunteer firefighters; there is 1 EMT and 3 more EMT’s about to be certified. BVFD currently has 5 trucks ranging from a large pumper down to a small grass truck; presently, they are working on a grant for a 6th truck. Additionally, they have a First Responder vehicle for their EMT’s.

BVFD “has state of the art” equipment, highly trained volunteers, and they have full capability to handle anything including car fires, house fires, grass fires and HAZMAT.

For more information about the Bertram Volunteer Fire Department, please see their website atwww.BertramVFD.com

An Emergency Service District (ESD) is a political subdivision approved by voters that collects property taxes to fund fire protection and emergency medical services. Under the Texas State Constitution, an ESD can levy no more than 10 cents per $100 of assessed property value. On May 10, 2008 the voters of the Bertram Volunteer Fire Department’s district approved a Fire ESD.

Burnet County Commissioners appointed the first five ESD Commissioners: Charles Caraway, Dean Dearmont, Irene Denton, Tice Porterfield and Mary Schulze. At their first meeting on June 10, 2008, the ESD Commissioners elected the following officers: President, Charles Caraway; Vice President, Dean Dearmont; Treasurer, Irene Denton; Vice Treasurer, Tice Porterfield; and Secretary, Mary Schulze.

At the ESD #4 meeting on August 19, 2008, the ESD Commissioners held a Public Hearing followed by a vote to establish the tax rate at 7.8 cents per $100 valuation. This tax rate should support BVFD’s budget and enable them to continue to improve the department.

For more information on ESD #4, please visit their website at www.bcesd4.org The ESD Commissioners meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Bertram American Legion Hall. The public is always welcome at these meetings.